Description
Antelope horns is a low-growing perennial, 1-2 feet tall, by 2-3 feet wide. The herbaceous stems radiate outward from a central taproot forming rounded mounds. The leaves, which are creased at the mid-vein, are 3-4 inches long and lance-shaped. They have wavy margins, are pointed at the tip and are alternately spaced but can form in groupings of 2 or 3 around the stems. The globe-like flower clusters are large, solitary, and form at stem ends. The individual flowers are 2-toned in their appearance; they are a mixture of greenish-white lobes and purple hoods. The slightly spiny, 2-4 inch long, seedpods stand upright and contain tufted, light brown, flat seeds.
Distribution
Antelope horns is found over a wide array of elevations. Look for the plant on dry plains, rocky slopes, and openings in Pinyon, Juniper, and Oak habitats from Kansas and Arkansas, west to Nevada and California. There is concern that in some traditional picking grounds in Colorado and New Mexico it is becoming scarce. In these areas, collect the plant with a light hand or go further east to Texas where the plant is in greater abundance.
Chemistry
At least four cardenolide-type cardiac glycosides: calotropin, coroglaucignin, uscharidin, and uzarin; preganane glycosides and most likely the flavonoids rutin and quercetin
Medicinal Uses
Use Antelope horns when upper and lower respiratory tract tissues are dry due to lack of secretion. When it hurts to breath, the lungs feel stuffy and hot, and bronchial mucus is impacted and difficult to expectorate Antelope horns fits the picture. It is well used in episodes of dry bronchitis with a hacking cough, dry, non-spasmodic asthma, and in pleuritic conditions. Through Antelope horns’ vagus nerve stimulation, similar to Pleurisy root’s, bronchial tissue is moistened because of enhanced mucus secretion. This serves to soothe inflamed membranes. Antelope horns works well by itself or in formula for individuals with the above bronchial conditions that tend to exhibit adrenaline stress patterns. The plant’s parasympathetic stimulation can be found by these people to be quite sedating. The effect Antelope horns has here is appropriate; often what a sick person needs most is time in bed.
Antelope horns has a moderate cardiac glycoside content, making its use as a mild heart stimulant practical. The plant slows and strengthens the heartbeat, as do the majority of properly dosed cardiac affecting plants, such as Convallaria and Selenicereus. It is best used when the pulse is weak and fast and cardiac output is diminished. Traditionally Antelope horns is used in heart weaknesses accompanying age, "tobacco heart", and heart enlargement. When constrictive breathing is dependent upon heart weakness Antelope horns can often seem bronchial dilating, when it is in fact improving tissue oxygenation through its cardiac stimulation. Also fluid retention, if dependent on heart weakness, is reduced.
Because of Antelope horns’ parasympathetic stimulation and the effect the root constituents have on the intestinal walls, moderate to large doses of the plant can prove laxative – an attribute of this plant and most Milkweeds that is greatly reduced in drying. Although not very predictable, Antelope horns can stimulate menses if the period is stop and start or is late due to chronic stress or intense episodes of fear or anger. The plant has been put to use by Hispanic New Mexicans and Coloradoans for several hundred years to stimulate labor and to assist in the body’s full separation and expulsion of the postnatal placenta.
Antelope horns’ white-milky sap is antifungal and moderately antibacterial, as is the sap from most other Milkweeds. Although sticky, the fresh latex, when applied daily, is useful in treating athlete’s foot, ringworm and other topical fungal infections. The latex, which is also high in proteolytic enzymes, is an effective wart treatment. Apply it fresh daily until the tissue softens enough so the wart can easily be picked off, or falls off by itself.
Indications
Asthma, dry, non-spasmodic
Bronchitis, with non-productive cough
Pleurisy
Cardiac weakness, from age or tobacco use
Amenorrhea
Labor, slowed
Fungal infections/warts (external)
Collection
When the foliage of the plant is visible, so it can serve as a locator, dig a hole about 1 foot across and 1-2 feet deep on one side of the plant. The soils that this plant is found in are typically dry, rocky, and calcrete-laden (at least in the southwest), so it is usually not an easy root to procure. The taproots of older plants can be several inches thick and up to 2 feet deep. They usually descend vertically with some secondary smaller roots coming off the main root. The outside root bark is brownish-tan; the inside is porous and cream-colored. The last 6-8 inches is the most difficult part to collect; it is the deepest part and it has narrowed considerably. Make sure to finish the job by getting the entire root. Discard the foliage. Use the roots within a year, shortly after the oils can become rancid, making the medicine tedious on the gut and liver.
Preparations
Spilt the porous roots several times length-wise. If living in an arid environment the roots will dry sufficiently. Chop the roots width-wise, every ¼-½ inch if environmental humidity is a factor or use a dehydrator.
Dosage
Root decoction/cold infusion: 2 ounces 2-3 times daily
DPT (50% alcohol): 5-30 drops 3 times daily
Fluidextract: 5-10 drops 3 times daily
Latex pellets or ‘00’ capsules: 1-2, 3 times daily
Latex: externally as needed
Cautions
Do not use Antelope horns internally during pregnancy or while nursing. It is also unwise to mix the plant with heart effecting pharmaceuticals. In fact, Antelope horns best fits "old coots" with aging hearts who abhor doctors, pharmaceuticals, and the intrusive nature of that sector. Antelope horns is not recommended in cardiac excess: slow, bounding, forceful pulse, and strong determination of blood.